Tank construction



Filed Nov. 1-1927 Dec. 3, 1929. fiAYMOND 1,738,483

TANK CONSTRUCTION f In 8 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 G-WYNNE RAYMOND, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AS IGNUR T BLACK, fiIVALLE-l 80 BRYSUN IVl'f-lhTUFACTURING (JGMQPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A GOlRPORA- TIDE OF DELAWARE TANK CONSTRUCTION Application filed November This invention relates to adjustable gin poles for tanks. in the construction of large cylindrical tanks it has been found that the foundations are usually uneven, niali' it difficult to connect the rafters to the vertical supports, much time being lost in attempting to force the walls of the tank sufficiently inward or outward to bring the tank to circular form so the rafters may be connected. It is also difficult, when a tank is not true, to place the sheeting forming the deck or roof so that it will have a smooth and syn'in'ietrical appearance. The above difficulties are encountered not only because of irregularity in the foundation, but also because of variations in bolt and bolt hole openings, and in the bucle ling of the sheets or plates, the total of such irregularities in a large tank providing a large amount of unevenness. As far as 1 am aware, prior to my invention there has been no method devised or means provided, whereby the unevenness of tank roof assembly supported. by gin poles or other column or intermediate supports could be efficiently and smoothly stretched in its final position.

The invention, therefore, has as its prime object to produce an adjustable gin pole in combination with a supporting top or cap for i the inner ends of the rafters, wl'iereby ad justn'ient of the pole shall effect the rounding of the tank walls by thrusting inwardly or outwardly on the rafters, and further adjustment of said pole shall effect the stretching of the roof, and thereby take up or absorb the unevenness therein to provide a perfectly sinooth syn'nnetrical roof.

l l ith the general objects named in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood referenc is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a section through one-half of a tank equipped with a gin pole embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line l.ll1 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmental top plan View of the column cap to which the rafters are attached.

Figure t is a fraginental side elevation of the lower end of the upper sections of the gin pole to illustrate the heel bars.

in the said drawing, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 indicates a stub pipe constituting; the lower section of a telescopic gin pole, said pipe being preferably provided with a base plate 2 and equipped with a plurality of brace flanges 8. The stub pipe is located in and rests on the floor of a tank 'lfelescopically mounted on the stub pipe 1 is the upper section 5 of the gin pole, preferably equipped at its upper end with a cap plate 6, reinforced by a supporting ring 7, and radial ribs or flanges 8, welded or otherwise rigidly secured in position. The stub pipe 1 is provided with a series of perforations 0 through which a supporting pin extends for the adjustment of the upper section 5 to any desired position, the upper section 5 being provided adjacent its lower end with a pair of heel bars 11 to be engaged by a jack (not shown) to elevate or extend the gin pole during erection, the upper section of the pole finally resting on the supporting pin 10 of the lowersection.

lln assemblinga tank in the field, the wall is first erect d and permanently secured to the foundation, and then the gin pole is placed in position. To support the deck, a series of rafters 1.2 are secured regular intervals to the upper edge of the tanlr wall, and

. the inner ends of said rafters are secured to the overlying ed go 13 of the cap plate 6. Due to the factthat a fault as first erected, is practically never absolutely round, difficulty has heretofore been encountered in properly securing and supporting the inner ends of the rafters l l ith this invention, the gin pole may be extended by the use of a jack under the heel bars, or permitted to shorten by gravity, in order that the inner ends of the rafters may be conveniently and easily positioned for securenient to the cap plate.

After all of the rafters have been secured in position, it will be found that the tank wall has been rounded. The sheeting constituting the roof or deck 14, is then placed in ping roof plates adapted to overlie and be position.

The gin pole is now jacked up supported by said rafters, whereby upon exstrong, stretching thereof plates and absorhtension of the gin pole the roof plates will be ing all of the unevenness and producing a stretched for the removal of slack 5 perfectly smooth roof.

It has been found that a great saving in time in all cases is made by utilizing the apparatus and steps of erection outlined in this case in the erection of tanks in the field, that itis' much easier for the workmen, and that the completed tank is more uniform in appearance and possesses a smooth tight roof.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a device which possesses all of the features of advantage pointed out as desirable; and while I have described and claimed the preferred embodiment of the same, it is understood that I reserve the right to make all changes properly falling Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim v: 1.- The combination in a roofed tank, of a vertically-extensible gin pole, a cap platev rigid with the upper end of said gin pole,

rafters secured to and radiating from said cap plate and connected at their outer ends to e the wall of the tank, and heel plates secured to the adjustable member of the gin pole to take the power thrust applied to adjust said member and effect endwise adjustment of the rafters. V

2. The combination in a tank of a wall, a roof spanning the Wall and composed of a plurality of plates fastened together and to the wall, a centrally located gin pole comprising a base member and an upper member fitting slidingly on the base member, a cap plate belou the roof anddisposed over the upper 40 member of the gin pole, a circular ring underlying and rigid withthe cap plate, radial braces connecting the ring and upper member of the gin pole rigidly together, radial rafters within thetank and secured at'their inner ends to the cap plate and connected at their outer ends to the wall of the tank, and means for securing the upper member of the gin pole atthe desired elevation.

3. The combination in a tank, of a vertical- "ly-adjustable center gin pole supported by I p ,the floor-of said tank, a cap plate on the upthe floor of said tank,-'continuous rafters radially extending from said gin pole and con- 1 perend of said gin pole, continuous rafters radially extending from said gin pole cap plate and connected at their outer ends to the 5 wall of the tank, and a plurality of overlap- GWYNNE RAYMOND. 

